Sandal



Aug- 28, 1956 c. E. JONES ETAL SANDAL Filed. July 5, 1955 INVENTORS; CHHRLESI 1 (lo/v26 4/1/0 XQBERT H. CROM/LE THE/R flTTO/Q/VEK United States Patent Cfiice Patented Aug. 28, 1956 SANDAL Charles E. Jones, Chicago, and Robert H. Crowle, 13er- Wyn, 11]., assignors to Nu-Dell Plastics Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July s, 1955, Serial No. 519,832

2 Claims. (Cl. 36-115) Our invention relates to a sandal especially adapted for beach, shower, or sportswear.

An object of this invention is to provide a sandal moulded of flexible, light weight material in foot conforming contour design, such material preferably, although not necessarily, being polyethylene.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a sandal of this character which is easy to slip on the foot, easy to clean, and which will give the maximum foot comfort.

Another object of the invention is the provision of associating with the sandal a non-skid construction.

Yet another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a sandal of the character hereinafter described which is provided with combination ventilating and drain port holes in the attaching strap of the sandal.

Another object is to provide a sandal of the character hereinafter described which comprises relatively few parts, is economical in manufacture, and one which will be highly efficient for its intended purpose.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sandal embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom plan view of the sandal;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sole and the strap of the sandal shown in exploded relation with respect to each other; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

We prefer to form our improved sandal of polyethylene which may be of its natural color, or tinted to produce any desired color, and moulded to take the shape of the foot as shown in the drawings. The sandal may be made in various sizes and color combinations. The preferred form of construction of our improved sandal includes a sole 143 and a heel 11 integrally formed or moulded together as shown. The surface engaging portion of the sole and heel 11 is ribbed as at 12 to provide a sturdy sole and heel construction, while at the same time assuring lightness of the sandal.

At predetermined points on the sole and on the heel are provided sockets 13 into which non-skid elements 14 such as rubber plugs or the like frictionally fit.

The periphery of the sole provides a depending flange 15 to reinforce the sole 10 and yet allow ample flexibility to assure comfort to the wearer. Certain of the ribs 12 are separated as at 16 so as not to interfere with the flexibility of the sole.

The heel, for lightness purposes, is substantially hollow with the exception of the ribs 12 confined therein.

A strap 17 secured to the sole inwardly of the marginal edges 18 thereof provides a retaining means for retaining the sandal upon the foot. This strap 17 is formed of elastic material such as rubber or the like. The opposite corresponding edges of the strap 17 terminate into outwardly flaring shoulders 20 extending on opposite sides of the strap 17 as shown. Extending from each of these shoulders 29 are locking heads 21, each substantially T- shaped in cross-section to provide together with the shoulders on opposite sides of the strap at each end thereof, parallel extending grooves 22. These locking heads are of elongated form as are the grooves 22 and shoulders 20, and are adapted to be forced by means of a suitable tool through elongated slots 23 provided in the sole 10 adjacent the opposite side marginal edges thereof. When the locking heads are forced through the slots 23, the material of the sole as indicated at 24 will be disposed in the grooves 22 thereby to provide an effec tive connection between the strap and the sole.

In the opposite ends of the strap 17 adjacent the shoulders 20 are provided combination ventilating and drain ports 25. While in the drawing we have shown five of such ports in each end of the strap, it is to be understood that this number may be increased or decreased according to the requirements of manufacture.

For decorative purposes, the outer surface of the strap may be knurled or grooved as at 26. If desirable, the top surface 27 of the heel and sole may be stippled as at 28 to provide a non-skid surface serving to 'hold the foot in place upon the sole and heel.

While it has been found desirable to provide at each end of the strap 17 two locking heads, such as the heads 21, it is to be understood that this number may vary without departing from the spirit of the invention. If the strap is of substantial width such as that shown in the drawings, it is desirable that there be employed two of such locking heads on each end of the strap. However, if the strap be of narrow construction, then only one locking head on each end of the strap need be employed. By making the locking heads of elongated form and extending the same the full width of the strap at its point of connection with the sole, the corners of the strap are effectively connected to the sole and will not pull away nor spread therefrom under foot pressure.

As before indicated, the strap and sole may be of different colors or may be formed of the same color.

A sandal constructed in accordance with the foregoing description is especially useful for beach, shower, and sports wear and will be relatively light in weight, assuring the maximum comfort to the wearer.

Skidding of the sand-a1 on slippery surfaces is reduced to a minimum by reason of the non-skid plugs 14.

It will be noted that the strap 17, in addition to being flexible and permanently attached to the sole, is shaped to conform to the foot to assure maximum comfort 'to the wearer.

While I have stated that the sole and heel of the sandal is formed of polyethylene, it is to be understood that any material suitable for the purpose may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being desirable that such material permit a certain amount of flexibility during walking of the wearer.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A sandal comprising a flexible integral body form- 3 'ing a sole "and'having a depending flange about itsperipheral edge with said flange increasing in depth at the heel end of said body to form a substantially hollow heel' setio nfsaid sole having its underside provided With floor-engaging ribs in its heel shank and forward portions, with the ribs in the shank and forward portion of the sole being of 'a greater depth than the depth of said flange and of lesser depth than the depth of the ribs ofsaid heel section so as to space the shank and forward portion of said sole and of said'fiange from the floor, eert'ain'of said ribs ofsaid sole extending longitudinally thereof and being longitudinally discontinuous so as to maintain the flexibility of said sole, said sole along its marginal edges beingprovided with elongated slots with said slots being positioned interiorly of said flange, a strap of flexible material, each of the opposite end edges of saidstrap being provided with one or more locking heads, said heads having formed in opposite facesthereof sole receiving grooves, locking shoulders provided on the side of said grooves opposite said locking heads, said locking heads being projected through said slots a distance substantially equal to the depth of said flange and to a position Where adjacent portions of said sole are received in said grooves and said shoulders are in looking engagement with one side of said sole to prevent further projection of said heads through the slots, and said heads are in locking engagement with the other 'side "of said sole to latch said heads beneath "said sole,

the si'deso f said grooves serving to 'maintainsaid heads R'eferenc'es' Cit'edi'inthe file' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,503 Durgin Jan. 5, 1915 1,653,059 Nelson Dec. '20, 1927 1,823,445 Goldstone Sept. 15, 1931 1,962,526 Riddell June 12, 1934 2,114,421 Giufire Apr. 19, 1938 2,183,277 Heilhecker Dec. 12, 1 939 2,185,762 Cox Jan 2, 1940 2,368,314 Marx Jan." 30, 1945 2,595,643 Daugherty May 6, 1952 2,599,740 Beven'dge June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 627,066 Great'Britain July 27,1949 

